title: Anti-inflammatory properties of Ajuga bracteosa in vivo and in vitro study and their effects on mouse model of liver fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The entire plant of Ajuga bracteosa Wall has been used to treat various inflammatory disorders, including hepatitis, in Taiwan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the hepatoprotective ability of Ajuga bracteosa extract (ABE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the inhibitory action of a chloroform fraction of ABE (ABCE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and Kupffer cells. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in mice through the administration of CCl(4) twice a week for 8 weeks. Mice in three CCl(4) groups were treated daily with water and ABE throughout the duration of the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and Kupffer cells, ABCE inhibited the production of NO and/or TNF-α and also blocked the LPS-induced expression of NO synthase. ABCE inhibited the activation of NF-κB induced by LPS, associated with the abrogation of IκBα degradation, with a subsequent decrease in nuclear p65 and p50 protein levels. The phosphorylation of MAPKs in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells was also suppressed using ABCE. In the in vivo study, ABE protected the liver from injury by reducing the activity of plasma aminotransferase, and by improving the histological architecture of the liver. RT-PCR analysis showed that ABE inhibited the hepatic mRNA expression of LPS binding protein, CD14, TNF-α, collagen(α1)(I), and α-smooth actin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that ABE alleviated CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis, and that this protection is probably due to the suppression of macrophage activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science and Tsuzuki Institute for Traditional Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh Shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Tsong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D031328:Ajuga; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D000637:Transaminases